Hi all,
It’s the start of the three day, Ayr Western Meeting. Unlike Doncaster last week there’s no shortage of runners which is good. However, there is a downside. It looks a very tough card to navigate so I will be keeping most of my powder dry for Friday & Saturday.
Ayr Gold Cup Festival – Day 1
3:30 -William Hill Doonside Cup Stakes (Listed Race) – 1m 2f
Not the strongest of renewals of the race. Forest Ranger has to give 7lb to his rivals due to his Group 2 win at Chester In May. He’s the class horse in the race and could be able to give the weight away.
Andrew Balding is 2 winners from 4 runners 50% +3.12 3 placed 75% in the race. He saddles Encapsulation. The 3-year-old was only beaten ½ length by Pink Dogwood in a Navan Listed race back in April when trained in Ireland. Ran well, when runner-up, over a mile at Sandown on her first start for Andrew Balding two starts back but she did run flat at York after. Has been given a 55-day break to freshen her up and reproduction of her best form makes her a big contender here.
2pts win – Encapsulation – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
4:30 – Orange Blossom, won a 5f race at Kempton for James Given back in the spring. Now with Richard Fahey she’s not been disgraced on either start for her new stable and she put in a career best when runner-up at Epsom on her last start at Epsom 24-days ago. Drops back to the minimum trip here and it should suit the filly.
1pt win – Orange Blossom – 7/1 @ William Hill
5:00 – True Romance looked progressive, albeit at a modest level, when winning at Musselburgh & Catterick and wasn’t beaten far when 4th of 12 at Thirsk on soft ground 34-days ago. The 5-year-old is fancied to return to form back on better ground off what remains a competitive mark.
1pt win – True Romance – 7/1 @ William Hill
Cheers
John